The PURPOSE OF THIS WEBSITE:

To contribute to efforts to preserve and present traditional Native American Beadwork Designs and Beading Patterns for the next generations, and to Honor Our Ancestors by giving freely and generously, as Native people have always done. More Personally, I do this work to Honor my own Native Mother and Grandmothers, and because I love the work.

November 19, 2010  It's been a confusing month..

I have been working on patterns, but not finding time to get them up on the site. I really am trying.. More than one person has written to me asking for specific patterns that are not yet on my site, and I have kept the e-mails, and I will get to them all this winter, I hope. A few requests here and there  have fallen through the cracks I imagine, so I apologize to anyone I have forgotten. I do get an amazing number  of e-mails, this is a popular site and people are passionate about their beading.

I have been working on looms, but the bead loom sales pages were down for so long that now I have a  few completed looms on hand and no orders! .hmm... Oh, something nice is happeneing, a fellow out in Vancouver is starting to make tee-shirts from my Metis Art, and I was wondering if it might not be a nice idea to make Tees from some of my beading patterns, I can think of one I'd like on a red tee. What do you think? Please write and tell me. 

I made a beading pattern from one of my paitings, did anyone try the Thunderbird pattern found here?

October 31, 2010  a whole MONTH went by??!!!.

Being a  Grandma in charge of a 14 year old, building looms, and dealing with my own health issues has sure made the time fly! I must be having fun. Well, fun or not, I miss working on my beading patterns, and I apologize for the delays. But tonight I added some really pretty Eagle and Flag beading patterns for those who love a LONG belt or strap to work on. I have a couple looms that are made for belt lengths, in case you are wondering. .. Oh sorry, I have looms on the brain!

October 1, 2010  COLD WEATHER IS RETURNING. New MINI-LOOM is ready for purchase..

The place I work on my looms has no heat, and with Cold Weather coming, I am wondering how I will continue making my looms. I never know what is going to happen around here!! So I designed a small loom that I could build in my room if I needed to. It is a lovely little thing, just 6" high, but it can handle a beadwork piece 2.5" x 18" if need be. Have a look.

September 26, 2010  FINALLY, SOME BRACELETS, SEED BEAD HEAVEN!!

Tonight I added 5 bracelet patterns. each is 21 x 75 and so you can easily adjust the patterns to you bead size and wrist size by adding borders, or rows at the ends, or removing them if you are working up a bead pattern to grace a small wrist

My Table top little Student looms are nearly ready to be posted for sale. I was working on them and I kept getting turned around, drilling holes where no holes should be, adding magnets on BOTH sides of the loom etc.. it was a dyslexic nightmare. So.... I determined that I need a day out in the fresh air, a visit to the lake, some time in the woods talking to my woodpecker friends. Tomorrow I think I will drive out to to my favorite Coffee shop. Oh, I don't drink coffee, but it's on a local Rez and the music and people are great,  a sweet-grass smelling haven from my computer and my wood shop... and  they sell my art prints out there, so I will be picking up a few bucks and I'll then enjoy a cup of tea, and a warm muffin with my Granddaughters.

September 19, 2010  ANOTHER LOOM STYLE!!

Today I added a page for an Adjustable Loom, something people are more familiar with. I am wondering if I will get any orders....time will tell. I have some real life beading to finish, so no new patterns today, sorry.

September 18, 2010  Busy Days....

I added a page showing a new way to warp my looms: here. I wanted to link the photos to individual pages with further detailed explanation, but I can't find the time. I think the photos and captions will be enough.

Today I added a group of 5 related beading patterns: a belt, hat band, and barrette, along with 2 versions of a medicine bag panel.

I am working on a "Student" version of my loom, I think I will post it up for sale this week. It is made for those who don't care about the medicines, and who do mostly smaller pieces up to about 3.5" x  20". It will have a simplified tension set-up and no solid base beneath it. I am doing some beading on one now to get some photos ready, it works great. I even sit in my recliner with it, so it is a very serviceable little loom.

Anybody need a Giant loom? I think a custom order is not going to go through. I'm getting no response to my "It's Ready!" e-mails. You can see the loom at the bottom right here.

September 15, 2010  New!! Tension Rod added to my looms.

I posted a quick photo of the new design at the top of the Loom Page. Some folks asked for this because they like the really tight warp, so I added it. I am also preparing an instruction page for warping the loom with parallel warp thread for wider pieces, to use in place of the cross-tied method that is suitable for narrow pieces.

I just finished a loom that is 2 feet wide!! It will make up a piece 22" x 50"!! I will post pics soon.

September 03, 2010  Finally!!! New Patterns up..

Today I added 4 new Barrette patterns. I will contimue adding patterns for while now. I hope you will enjoy them.  I am also going to work my way through all the e-mails and the images folks have sent me to share on this site. So, keep your eye on the new additions links at the top of  the home page. I Love Fall weather!!

UPDATE: on 09/05 I added 6 more barrette patterns. That's all for now, I think I will move on to some earring patterns...

August 10, 2010  Back at work here, good news ~ bad news..

I was sad that our trip to the Animal Sanctuary was cancelled, but I am back at work here, so that is good news. Seems they took in some abused un-neutered Stallions and thought having volunteers around might be dangerous, and things were going to be more hectic than they thought. Well, we were disappointed.. SO I am back working on the Looms, and getting some new patterns ready for September..

June 25, 2010  New Beading Patterns added to day, the next will be September..

I have been feeling guilty about not adding any patterns the last few weeks, I have decided to give that up and just plan on adding new patterns this fall, in September. In the meanwhile I will continue working on my patterns, going to few Pow Wows, and catching up on housework..always housework.. I am thinking a little cabin next to a big studio would be so much better than pretending I am a housewife! I think I need a wife, actually, that would be a great help.

May 21, 2010  Beautiful weather distracting me..lol..

I have been wondering why I am not getting any patterns prepared lately. Well, my granddaughter moved in with me in April, but what I really think is the sun and the wind and the beauty keeps calling me away from my computer.  Anyway, I did add a few more Beaded Hatband patterns today. It's a few weeks since a paypal donation came in,  if you have been thinking about a gift, now is always a good time . . Have a really GREAT day!!!

May 5, 2010  Been busy building Looms...   (Note: 5/12 Still building looms..)

I have posted a NEW beading pattern tonight here. It is based on patterns seen in Navajo Rugs. I have been very busy with family and building Looms. I miss working on the beading designs, though.. I will try and get some more up over the next few days.  Oh, thanks to the ladies who sent in answers to the "question of the day".

April 30, 2010 My First Epaulet Pattern.

I have so many different things to get up on this site, seems the ideas and patterns are popping up all over my hard drive! lol.. I had been planning this website for so long, and working on ideas and saving them, that it looks like I may never really get to the bottom of any of my stashes of designs. Tonight I posted a 2 page pattern for a Pair of Epaulets with a Feather Design.

April 28, 2010 Finally got a page up for my "Endless" Looms

A while back, I designed an easy to use Loom and I've been working with them for a long, long time. I think some of you would like them, too. So I have made a way for you to get one. I think you will really like these. Smooth sanded natural wood with the 4 Sacred Medicine Plants in each one. Have a Look!!

April 25, 2010 New Gallery of Barrettes - Loom Beadwork Patterns

Barrette are a favorite any time, quick to weave and beautiful to wear. I have added a New Gallery of Barrettes for Native American Beadwork, some from the old site, some new, a couple that were here already. The Double Eagle is in there, again. There are about a dozen up now, and yes, I have more to add over time. ENJOY!!

April 23, 2010 METIS SASH - Loom Beadwork Pattern

I have Red River Metis Roots, as you may know from seeing my paintings, and this beadwork pattern based on the Metis Sash is one that means a lot me. It is EZ to do, since it is just 2 rows repeating again and again.    And..... Please Answer the QUESTION OF THE DAY.

April 21, 2010 Posted a page with 32 "homey" borders or hatbands?

I have added a Gallery with 8 pattern sheets, each with 4 patterns for Hatbands, or Borders for your own designs, or to expand the Medicine bags to be a larger Purse,. or whatever you find to do with these. It was one of these days when a simple triangle begins to inspire me to elaborate and complicate and expand my view of what a triangle is.. lol.. I hope someone will find a good use for them, or at least one of them.

April 20, 2010  New Beadworker Profile Up

I have added a page for Khobie Alexander, a Beadworker who does Native American Style Barrettes. I have some others to add as well, but I am getting behind in my e-mail submissions, so have patience with me. 2 more Beaded Regalia Belt Patterns have been added, also..

Please don't forget the Paypal Donations help me keep going!! 

April 19, 2010  New Pattern up, this one from Ken Larson....

I have added a new Pattern by  a Site Contributor, Ken Larson, it is a very Colorful Morning Star. Another Site Contributor, Shea, has sent a coule new patterns, and I have added one tonight to her page, a beautioful Bracelet, the 3rd on Shea's page. There's a printable pattern of her original design, and a printable page of Variations on the design.

April 12, 2010  New gallery ONLINE! Creatures to add into your beadwork designs

15 more patterns! Some are re-posted from the old site, some are new. Butterflies, Thunderbirds, Hummingbirds and even a Wendigo and a MOTH!.... I worked for several days to get it ready to  post to the site. I appreciate visitors who return again and again to see what's new, and I like to get something up as often as I can, but some things take longer than expected. Now, I need to take a week or so away form working oin this site, and do taxes for people in my family, and friends.. Oh, why did I volunteer??? lol..

April 8, 2010  New Gallery completed, and some Donation Buttons added..

Colorful Sunrise with 7 Feathers Medicine Bag panel added today, HERE. I added a second version of the pattern to allow you to add your own design in the upper portion, and create a unique beadwork design. Hoping to get some more patterns up by midnight!

April 5, 2010  New Gallery completed, and some Donation Buttons added..

I added something non-beading tonight, I couldn't help myself!! lol.. The beauty of these PINE NEEDLE BASKETS just blew me away and I wanted to share them as "artistic inspiration" for all my beading visitors.

April 4, 2010  Happy Easter to those of you who Celebrate!!!

Last night an Even Count Peyote page was added. William's Frst Attempt is online, and Shea, another visitor has shared a modification to the Running Horses pattern HERE. Today, waiting for family to come over, I have re-posted from the old site 2 pages of Barrette Variations. I also re-instated my habit of posting the latest pages by date, just below the words of welcome at the top of the home page. I hope my loyal visitors will continue to have patience as I re-post all the beading patterns from the old site. One of these days I'll be done and I'll be able to really get into some new patterns, I have quite a few "under development". Not sure how long that will take, I did have a HUGE site and dozens of FREE  Native American Beading Patterns there.. Well, have a nice day!!

March 31, 2010  New Gallery completed, and some Donation Buttons added..

I have completed a new gallery of 1" wide endless loom patterns suitable for Hatbands or Narrow Belts, or straps. The odd thing is I found the patterns in a file where I had tucked them neatly as I created them, and then totally forgot I'd done it! lol.. And it still took me 3 days to get hem organized into a gallery and each on its own page.  You may have also noticed a few donation buttons here and there in the site (there's one at the bottom of this page). Today I received my first gift in appreciation for the site.. $5 from Australia!! Hooray and THANK YOU!!!

March 29, 2010  Visitor's question: What size bead should I use?!

I am not really sure why I mention bead size on my patterns at all, to tell you the truth. Beads from different companies have differing dimensions, and you have your own preferences as well. The best thing to do before starting a project is to make a test piece a bit wider and longer than one inch, and then count the beads in your test pieces per inch. Set down the dimension you want your finished piece to be and adjust the pattern before beginning to weave so that your finished piece will be the size you need for your project. There really is no way to say exactly how many  rows or columns will be what you need. I have done the Medicine Bag Panels in Great Big Plastic Pony Beads as wall hangings, so you never know what a beader will get up to! lol..

March 27, 2010  Guitar Strap Gallery is 100% up-to-date!

I have been working on this for a few days, and I look forward to moving on to something else... Maybe the Barrettes..? I still have dozens and dozens of patterns to get online.. I have been re-building this site for longer than I like to think about .. I am looking forwrad to when all I have donw is up and I can begin to create NEW PATTERNS!! I have so many, many ideas and inspirations!! If you have any ideas, let me know..

March 23, 2010  I'm still here.. I'm working on a large Gallery - GUITAR STRAPs

It will take a couple days at least  to get this done.. there are a lot of these loom beadwork patterns for Guitar Straps, and a few new ones I am just finishing. If you have a website or a blog, please consider adding a link to  this site, http://www.free-beading-patterns.com and if your site is beading related, send me your link and I'll post it soon as I get the links page built..any pics??

March 21, 2010  Started something new: BEADWORKERS WORTH KNOWING

It took a little longer than I expected, but I think I did a good job.. I am hoping to find and present more Master Beadworkers in the future, if you have any suggestions please write. Here are the two I have up now, and even for their pages I'd like to add more. KEN LARSON and ELLIS TAYLOR .

March 20, 2010  BELT GALLERY  UP

The Belts are viewable page now, I do have more to add there, but I am trying to get the whole site structure in place before I start the long process of getting each additional pattern on a page and uploaded, that will be an endless task! I have been working a lot of hours on this in ways that don't show to a visitor, and that isn't as much fun. ~ I am somber today, it is the anniversary of my Mother' passing, she is the one on the right, above. Evelyn. It is a good day to remember all that was valuable to me in her life. I suppose if it wasn't for her interest in Native Beadwork, we wouldn't be here doing this beading website now. She would be so proud of this work.~  Sunday I will have a page up featuring Heddle Information and Heddle links from Ellis Taylor (this is not the same person I mentioned Yesterday).

March 18, 2010   WALLET GALLERY  UP  sorta...

The Wallets are all on one page now.. but the little coin purse pages don't link yet.. still working on them. I will get more wallet patterns up, but first I'm trying to get all the Beading Patterns form t he old site online, then I can go back and begin adding new designs and bead patterns. I spoke by phone to a man with more than 30 years beading experience, he has freely offered to send his photos, and information to add to the site. He uses Heddle looms to do his beading, I think..He says it will be week at least to get it in the mail to me..

but that is something to look forward to.

March 16, 2010  MORE PATTERNS COMING SOON....

I am trying to get the Beaded Wallet Gallery up, and a small collections of Alphabets just in case anyone needs to do initials or a Monogram.

March 13, 2010  NOTHING CAN STOP US NOW! WHOO HOO!!

Just got GOOD NEWS! I have been given a promise of funding to keep this site online as a permanent resource, HOORAY!! Just when it looked like things were going to get worse, they got better than ever!! That is the circular nature of Spirit. What is good brings more good all around. It is a good thing to try and preserve and present the beadwork patterns of our Ancestors and their families today. To try and bring to light the deeper thinking behind some ways of being a beader.  My Native Grandmothers are no doubt happy to see this work being done in this new way, on the internet. It gives me Joy everyday to do this work. Thanks for being here with me, and all your e-mails of support..

March 09, 2010  NEW WEBSITE LAUNCHED!!

There were some valid objections to the format and content of NativeAmericanBeadingPatterns.com so rather than re-work that entire site, I decided to just start over. It is work I love to do, and a pleasure to bring to you as many FREE BEADING PATTERNS as I can, so now here we are at www.free-beading-patterns.com Any time you have a concern about content on this site, or it's presentation, please don't hesitate to write to me about it. updates@free-beading-patterns.com  It is a tricky business bringing Native American Patterns to the web in a sensitive way. There are many feelings to consider, laws, traditions etc. Those who sell similar patterns are not always happy to see a free pattern site online.